NIS job: Duping in the name of employment

By Kola Odepeju

The deaths of some youths as a result of the stampede that occurred during the Nigerian Immigration recruitment exercise on Saturday tells much about the pathetic case of youth unemployment in our country. And it also speaks volume of the shoddy manner of doing things in this country which has led us to this sorry pass.

Not less than 19 youths including pregnant women were reported dead across the nation while many sustained injuries – all in the name of seeking for job – during the so-called immigration recruitment exercise which is better called a sham and an invitation to death. What a big shame and a serious embarrassment to the nation?

The event of Saturday reminds us again of the pitiable situation of the youths of this country with respect to the problem of unemployment. It shows the level of unemployment and poverty in the land. That millions of youths would scramble to grab just 3, 000 jobs (if the number of the available jobs were even up to that figure) shows that the country is in a serious crisis appertaining to the cankerworm of youth unemployment in Nigeria. Fifteen years of democracy in Nigeria this is where we find ourselves; a situation of no job, no food, no water, no light, no good roads, no pension, no good heathcare system, no social security and above all, no security for the people. So where is the essence of government? Like the current President of America, Barak Obama, once said; ‘the essence of government is defeated if it cannot provide for the welfare of its citizens and guarantee their security’.

If asking is not sinful then it’s important to ask ourselves at this juncture; Fifteen years of democracy what is it that we can say that the masses of this country are really enjoying? Where are the dividends of democracy for the Nigerian people? If democracy could not provide the people those things we lacked under military rule – basic amenities of life – which made us to push them out of stage then what form of government are we to practise again? These questions become necessary in view of all the negativities that have come to be associated with our so-called democray. Surely this is just not the kind of democracy we bargained for.

Honestly, if the truth be told the party that has been steering the ship of state of this country at the centre, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should bury its head in shame for leading the country into this precipice. In spite of the monumental resources available to the national government all it can showcase are negative to human development viz; corruption, power outage, Boko Haram, militancy, kidnapping, armed robbery, unemployment, poverty, untimely deaths etcetera. Doesn’t it then tantamount to misapplication of term to still call this one government?

No doubt the Nigerian people have been subjected to the worst level of inhumanity under the watch of the PDP-led Federal Governemnt. And the government is always telling us that it’s on top of every situation even as things are getting worse for the people by the day. Who is fooling who? For the past fifteen years under this democratic experiment the experience of the Nigerian people has been like a case of jumping from frying pan into the fire. I ask gain; where is the essence of government?

On the issue of unemployment the unfortunate event of Saturday brings to the fore again the issue of declaration of Emergency on youth unemployment which the ilk of the governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, have been championing. What the nation witnessed on Saturday shows that the country is sitting on a keg of gunpowder apropos the germane issue of youth unemployment and by the time the gun will explode, those who feel they are safe may find out that they are not safe afterall. And by then it will be too late. This is why like Ogbeni Aregbesola has been shouting consistently government must declare Emergency on youth unemployment now and start moving in the direction of quick solution before the situation can no longer be rescued.

For God’s sake the youths are the trustee of any nation. The future of a nation is in the hands of its youths. Thus no nation can afford to pay a lip service to the issue of youth employment. This is why saner climes have for long learnt to cater for their youths by empowering them through provision of gainful employment and creating enabling environment. This is because engaging the youths invariably means securing the future of a nation.

Admissibly government may not be able to provide employment for all her youths. But a responsible government must provide enabling environment for the youths to be able to engage in profitable venrures that can make them to be self reliant and less depend on government. For instance when we are talking of enabling environment adequate and uninterrupted power supply is very key. In a situation where we live almost 24hours of our life in darkness then what type of business will grow in an atmosphere of lack of light? Bearing in mind that most businesses that the youths can engage in for survival are power dependent then how do they get themselves engaged?

Back to the sad experience of Saturday like many Nigerians have said thourough investigation must be conducted on the incident. The handlers of the exercise must be investigated on why they would choose just a single day for an exercise that should take at least a week. The NIS job was nothing but the name some Nigerians have given to it; Scam. If it was not meant to be a scam to whose purse does the huge amount of money collected from the applicants go? Or what purpose was the money meant to serve? Collecting such amount from unemployed youths to give them job was the height of callousness by those behind it. The concerned candidates must fight for the refund of their money now. And the Human Rights Commission (HRC) must stand up for the rights of the duped youths to be given their money back. We cannot be slaves in our fatherland.

Finally, the families of those applicants who lost their lives during the shoddily conducted exercise must sue the NIS now for compensation. Also, human rights Lawyers and civil society organisations that are concerned with human rights abuses are hereby urged to come to the aid of the bereaved and fight their case. May the souls of the departed youths rest in peace-Amen.

Tel: 08023191891, Email:  Kolaodepeju@yahoo.com